Deflection electrode assembly for an ink jet type printing device and a method for manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A deflection electrode assembly for an ink jet type printing device has such a construction that plural X- and Y-axis deflection electrodes etch-formed from an electroconductive plate overlie an opening of an insulating substrate through which ink droplets jetted from plural juxtaposed nozzles can be passed all at a time.

Feb. 5, 1974 DEFLECTION ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR AN INK JET TYPE PRINTING DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME Inventor: Yuji Sugiya, Tokorozawa, Japan Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Filed: Feb. 22, 1973 Appl. No.: 334,924

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,396,457 8/1968 Nordin 29/592 3,458,761 7/1969 Ascoli 317/3 Primary Examiner-Joseph W. l-Iartary Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flynn & Frishauf, P.C.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT A deflection electrode assembly for an ink jet type printing device has such a construction that plural X- and Y-axis deflection electrodes etch-formed from an Feb. 28, 1972 Japan 47/20391 electroconductive plate overlie an p i g f an i lating substrate through which ink droplets jetted from US. Cl 346/75, 29/592, 317/3 Int. Cl. G01d 15/16 plural juxtaposed mules can be passed an at a Field of Search 346/75; 29/592; 317/3 3 im 7 Dr wing Figures 13a 13b 13c 140 14C] 14C 14C 1 DEFLECTION ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR AN INK JET TYPE PRINTING DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME This invention relates to a deflection electrode assembly having plural paired deflection electrodes juxtaposed in the same plane in a manner to correspond to plural nozzles through which ink droplets are jetted, and a method for manufacturing the same.

An ink jet type printing device is so designed that ink droplets are jetted from plural nozzles connected to an ink tank utilizing an electrostatic force, accelerated through accelerating electrodes, and deflected through paired X- and Y-axis deflection electrodes by application of voltages corresponding to a character, number etc. so that a desired character, number etc. are printed on a recording paper etc.

When such a printing device is used, for example, as an output device for electronic computers it is often necessary to print a multi-digit number or a string of characters on a recording paper. It is a conventional practice to print one character or numeral on a recording paper using one nozzle and paired deflection electrodes. However, this method is slow in recording speed. To avoid such a disadvantage an attempt has been made to provide plural nozzles and plural paired deflection electrodes in a manner to correspond to a string, of characters or numbers to be printed, and effect a printing all at a time. In this case use is made of deflection electrode assemblies having the following construction.

Arranged one behind the other along an ink passage are two electroconductive plates, one for defining paired X-axis deflection electrodes and the other for defining paired Y-axis deflection electrodes. These electroconductive plates are respectively obtained by a one-piece molding. These two electroconductive plates are so positioned that the paired X-axis deflection electrodes of one plate and the paired X-axis deflection electrodes of the other plate are arranged one behind the other along respective ink passageways in a manner to correspond to the respective plural nozzles and a string of characters or numerals is printed all at a time. With such a construction it is necessary to one-piece mold two electroconductive plates in two separate processes i.e., one for X-axis deflection electrodes and one for Y-axis deflection electrodes. Thus, a large sized structure unavoidably results and the deflection sensitivity differs, since these two deflection plates are arranged one behind the other along the ink passage. Furthermore, if these two deflection plates are not accurately positioned along the ink passage, a misalignment is caused and an intended deflection can not be imported to ink droplets jetted from the plural nozzles, due to an unauthorized deviation in the characteristic of the X- and Y-axis electrodes of the deflection plates. As a result, it is impossible to print a character etc., under a good condition, on a recording paper.

An object of this invention is to provide a deflection electrode assembly for an ink jet type printing device having many advantages from the standpoint of its manufacture, its construction and its'characteristics, and a method for manufacturing the same. According to this invention the abovementioned drawbacks are all overcome.

A deflection electrode assembly for an ink jet printing device according to this invention can attain its object by attaching overlappingly to an insulating substrate having an opening through which ink droplets jetted from plural nozzles are passed, an electroconductive plate whose etch-formed, paired plural X- and Y'axis deflection electrodes are arranged in the same plane facing the opening of the insulating substrate, in a manner to correspond to the number of the plural nozzles.

A method for manufacturing a deflection electrode assembly according to this invention can attain its object by etch-forming plural paired X- and Y-axis deflection electrode sections from an electroconductive plate with the peripheral marginal portions left intact; attaching the electroconductive plate having the etchformed deflection electrode sections overlapping to an insulating substrate having an opening through which ink droplets jetted from plural nozzles can be passed; and cutting apart the opposite peripheral marginal portions of the resultant electroconductive plate-insulating substrate assembly whereby the plural paired X- and Y-axis electrode sections are juxtaposed in the same plane to define ink passageways therearound.

This invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an arrange ment of an ink jet type printing device using a deflection electrode assembly according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an insulating substrate used in this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an electroconductive substrate from which plural deflection electrode sections are etch-formed; 7

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the manner in which a deflection electrode assembly according to one embodiment of this invention is formed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a deflection electrode assembly according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a deflection electrode assembly according to another embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a deflection electrode assembly according to a further embodiment of this invention.

There will now be explained the embodiments of this invention by reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 an ink jetprinting device has a nozzle coupled to an ink reservoir. Though only one nozzle is shown by way of explanation, it should be understood that plural nozzles are arranged in juxtaposition. Droplets of ink jetted from the nozzle are accelerated through an accelerating electrode 3, deflected through a deflection electrode assembly 4 in X- and Y- axis directions so as to correspond to a desired character or numeral, and finally printed on a recording paper. Though only one accelerating electrode is shown for convenience it should be understood that plural accelerating electrodes are arranged in juxtaposition or may be formed in an integral fashion. The deflection electrode assembly is manufactured as follows.

As shown in FIG. 2 use is made of an insulating substrate 6 having an opening 7 sufficient to pass therethrough ink droplets jetted from plural nozzles arranged in juxtaposition. Instead of the opening 7, plural openings may be provided in the insulating substrate 6 so as to correspond to the plural nozzles. As shown in in FIG. 3 anelectroconductive plate 8 is etched away to provide paired electrode sections 13a, 13b, 13c used as Y-axis deflection electrodes and paired electrode sections 14a, 14b, 14c used as X-axis deflection electrodes, both of which are formed integral with the peripheral marginal portions of the plate. The paired X-axis electrode sections are arranged, in a manner to sandwich the paired Y-axis electrode sections in a spaced apart relationship, to define therebetween plural passageways 15a, 15b, 15c through which ink droplets can be passed. The electroconductive plate is so attached to one surface of the insulating substrate that the ink passageways of the plate all overlie the opening 7 of the substrate. Then, the resultant electroconductive plate insulating substrate assembly is cut along lines A-A and B-B indicated by arrows in FIG. 4 to complete a deflection electrode assembly as shown in FIG. 5. With the above embodiment the electroconductive plate is attached to one surface of the insulating substrate, but it should not be restrictively taken. For example, the electroconductive plate may be attached to both the surfaces of the insulating substrate 6 as shown in FIG. 6. With the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 the same reference numerals as employed in FIG. 5 are used to designate corresponding members or elements and any further explanation is, therefore, omitted. With the structure of FIG. 6 the scope of deflection is extended and excellent deflection characteristics are obtained. As a result, a more accurate printing is performed with a clearer definition.

With the above embodiments the electroconductive plate and insulating substrate are cut apart in the same plane, but only the electroconductive plate may be cut at its opposite longitudinal peripheral marginal portions in a manner that the insulating substrate is left intact as shown in FIG. 7. On those exposed peripheral marginal portions left intact of the insulating substrate a print wire connection may be made. Furthermore, an electrical connection can also be readily effected in connecting each electrode in common.

What is claimed is:

1. A deflection electrode assembly for an ink jet type printing device comprising an insulating substrate having an opening through which ink droplets from plural nozzles can be passed, a first group of electrodes oppositely facing in pairs at an interval with an ink passageway left therebetween, and a second group of electrodes whose pairs sandwich the paired first electrodes in a spaced apart relationship to define said ink passageway together with the paired first electrodes, said first and second groups of electrodes attached to one surface of the insulating substrate and forming paired vertical and horizontal electrodes corresponding to each of the plural nozzles.

2. A deflection electrode assembly for an ink jet type printing device comprising an insulating substrate having an opening through which ink droplets from plural nozzles can be passed, a first group of electrodes oppo sitely facing in pairs at an interval with an ink passageway left therebetween, a second group of electrodes whose pairs sandwich the paired first electrodes in a spaced apart relationship to define said ink passageway together with the paired first electrodes, said first and second groups of electrodes attached to one surface of the insulating substrate, and third and fourth groups of electrodes attached to the other surface of the insulating substrate and being in a symmetrical relationship to the plane of the insulating substrate, said first and third grouped electrodes and said second and fourth grouped electrodes having a deflection area in a direction of the thickness of the insulating substrate and respectively forming vertical and horizontal deflection electrodes corresponding to each of the plural nozzles.

3. A method for manufacturing a deflection electrode assembly for an ink jet type printing device comprising the steps of l) etch-forming, from an electroconductive plate, paired vertical and horizontal deflection electrode sections arranged in a predetermined interval while leaving the peripheral'marginal portions intact; (2) attaching the electroconductive plate having the paired vertical and horizontal electrode sections etch-formed by l to an insulating substrate having an opening through which ink droplets from plural nozzles can be passed; (3) cutting the opposite peripheral marginal portions of the resultant electroconductive plateinsulating substrate assembly integrally formed by (2) to leave the vertical and horizontal electrode sections of the electroconductive plate, whereby pairs of independent deflection electrodes are formed in a manner to face the opening of the insulating substrate. 

1. A deflection electrode assembly for an ink jet type printing device comprising an insulating substrate having an opening through which ink droplets from plural nozzles can be passed, a first group of electrodes oppositely facing in pairs at an interval with an ink passageway left therebetween, and a second group of electrodes whose pairs sandwich the paired first electrodes in a spaced apart relationship to define said ink passageway together with the paired first electrodes, said first and second groups of electrodes attached to one surface of the insulating substrate and forming paired vertical and horizontal electrodes corresponding to each of the plural nozzles.
 2. A deflection electrode assembly for an ink jet type printing device comprising an insulating substrate having an opening through which ink droplets from plural nozzles can be passed, a first group of electrodes oppositely facing in pairs at an interval with an ink passageway left therebetween, a second group of electrodes whose pairs sandwich the paired first electrodes in a spaced apart relationship to define said ink passageway together with the paired first electrodes, said first and second groups of electrodes attached to one surface of the insulating substrate, and third and fourth groups of electrodes attached to the other surface of the insulating substrate and being in a symmetrical relationship to the plane of the insulating substrate, said first and third grouped electrodes and said second and fourth grouped electrodes having a deflection area in a direction of the thickness of the insulating substrate and respectively forming vertical and horizontal deflection electrodes corresponding to each of the plural nozzles.
 3. A method for manufacturing a deflection electrode assembly for an ink jet type printing device comprising the steps of (1) etch-forming, from an electroconductive plate, paired vertical and horizontal deflection electrode sections arranged in a predetermined interval while leaving the peripheral marginal portions intact; (2) attaching the electroconductive plate having the paired vertical and horizontal electrode sections etch-formed by (1), to an insulating substrate having an opening through which ink droplets from plural nozzles can be pAssed; (3) cutting the opposite peripheral marginal portions of the resultant electroconductive plate-insulating substrate assembly integrally formed by (2) to leave the vertical and horizontal electrode sections of the electroconductive plate, whereby pairs of independent deflection electrodes are formed in a manner to face the opening of the insulating substrate. 